Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-02-26
THUNDER STORMS.

last Forty Years.
London Globe.
The last year VII long be remembered
upon tie continent, both IN France and
Germany, for the number and severity OF
its thunder storms. In this country the
number Of storms in 1886 was below the
the average, and nothing occurred to
draw any special attention to these oc-
casional displays Of the maiesti3 forces
OF nature. But in Germany, particu-
larry, a certain amount Of uneasiness has
been caused by the publication Of official
statistics which show beyond all question
that, in that country, at least, thunder
storms have been steadily increasing in
frequency, and, so far as can be Judged by
the injury inflicted on life and property,
in severity also, ever since the record
was commenced IN the year OF 1874. The
German savants have, therefore, been
paying q good deal OF attention TO the
phenomena Of Manifestations, and the
question naturally arises whether any
reasonable cause can be assigned fer
their continuous increase d0ring the
last forty years. Is it due to purely
naturally causes, such as are altogether
beyond human contrOl2 Or is it in any
way the result OF the conditions Of nod
srn civilization? And, If so, can any
thing be done to mend this undesirable
state Of affairs?
AT first sight the latter question may
seem rather extravagant; nevertheless,
the Germans are inclined to answer In
the affirmative. They are desidediy Of
opinion that the increase Of thunder
storms Is to be attributed to artificial
causes, and that something might Ger
tainly be done to diminish their frequen-
cy. Before stating their views we would
hazard the opinion that they will not be
accepted without free criticism. Long
ago Franklin taught US how TO erect me-
talie rods projecting at one end above the
tOpmost roofs Of our buildings aud buried
ct the other end III the soil, and by this
means to conduct the dangerous dis
charge harmlessiy to earth. Since
Franklin's time We have made one step
in advance IN this matter, and until
quite recently only one. The early
lightning conductors terminated II
round knobs. With this construction
the lightning could be seen visibly to
strike the conductor, and this was con-
sidered a very satisfactory result-and
indeed it was better than nothing.
But at the close Of the last century
Richmann, OF st. Petersburg, while ex-
perimentiug with such an apparatus, re-
ceived discharge which killed him on
the spot, although no storm was previ-
Ously raging. A little later it was dis
covered that conductors had more i'm
portant Office to fulfill; if they were made
pointed at the end, they were capable
not merely OF conducting a fash safely
to the ground, but Of absolutely prevent
ing the instantaneous discharge OF cleo
tricity in their own immediate neighbOr-
hood; provided, however, that the cleo
trio tension did not rise beyond some
(stiu unknOWn) limit. The experiment
may be repeated with any machine for
generating static electricity. If a knob
Is presented to the charged conductor, a
spark, accompanied by a sharp detOna-
ton, VII be given on, bat il a sharp
point be- used instead OF the knob, there
is no fash and no sudden noise, the cleo
tricity passes quietly away, with per
haps little blue light at the end Of the
point, accompanied by a slight Kissing
sound. Accc-1inSly, all modern light
ninG. conductors are made with very
sharp points, and the upper part Is OF
should be gilded, so as 10 preserve the
fine point from the corrosive action OF
the atmosphere Six months ago Prof.
Hughes announced that from series of
Theoretical researches, Of too ab ruse q
character to be entered upon here, be
had arrived at the conclusion that a
lightning conductor should be made in
the form of wide Hat ribbon and not as
q solid rod at least IN that part which
comes in contact with the building.
But Notwithstanding our knowledge
OF such effsctual and simple means OF
preserving our buildings from the dis
astrOus effects Of a lightning stroke, we
yet remain very much IN the dark upon
the whole subject Of atmospheric cleo
trieity, and especially upon the immedi-
ate cause Of thunder storms. The diff
Guilty lies not so much IN accounting for
the tact that cloud is sometimes, OF
even usually, found to be charged with
electricity; the enigma which remains
unsolved is TO explain how it is that dur
ing a Thunderstorm this charge or cleo
tricity is so rapidly renewed and regen-
Grated after each discharge It is rash
to argue too confidently from the be-
AAN4lA u AA41 aA4A4 lAA4lAAAA-41 Wa4AlAA We
produce at will IN our laboratories to the
magnificent exhibition OF the power of
those occult forces which are at work IN
the thunder storm; but yet it is safe to
say that 80 far as our present knowledge
goes, the electricity OF a thunderstorm
has not, as is generally supposed, been
gradually accumulated during a preV-
GUS period in which as a rule, the wealth
or is unusually oppressive, and then ois-
persed a little at a time with every light
ming fash. On the contrary, the cleo
trio charge Is renewed then and there
between the successive peals OF thunder.
Doubtless the previous condition OF the
atmosphere has much, probably every
thing, to do with preparing the way for
these operations, but it is tOlerably Ger
tain that the electricity is not itself
bottled up beforehand to any pereeptible
extent.
The German observers state that not
withstauding the great increase in the
number Of lightning eond uetors which
has taken place within the last forty
years, the ratio between the total num-
Der Of buildings in the country and the
annual number damaged by lightning
has been multiplied fvs-fold since the
year 1884. This is undoubtedly a
somewhat alarming statement, especial
~ il there is any reason for fear that
this rapid rate Of increase is likely to be
maintained. The facts alaO demand close
examination from a purely scientific
point Of view, as they might well throw
light upon the obscure genesis Of the
phenomana OF the thunder storm The